Alabama, The United States of America

Alabama a largely rural state is in poor shape — literally. It has a population of 5 million people 68.4% of them are white and 26.5% of them are black. The state is ranked 46th for income and has a poverty rate of 17% (sixth highest in the US). Alabama has a huge health problem which is race related. All STDs are highest among blacks and Hispanics. According to the latest figures from early 2024 62% of the HIV infected population is black and 28% is white.

In 2020 there were an estimated 17522 HIV infections. 14771 of them were diagnosed with HIV. 11016 of them (75%) receive care. 9006 people of the diagnosed HIV population were living with a suppressed undetectable virus. (61%) Quite a shockingly low percentage when you compare these figures with several hard-hit African countries like for example Zambia.
The first three months of 2024 saw 62 new HIV infections 47 male and 15 female.
Stigma against LGBTQ persons generally is high. Many of these individuals do not identify themselves as gay or bisexual. Young black males in the 15 to 29 age group have been identified as a high-risk group. Black females are approximately 9 times more likely to become infected with HIV than white females.
(Source: alabamapublichealth.gov/ HIV)

Katie

Tuscumbia, USA

“Freddie kept a lot hidden too.”

As an 8 year old child, Katie knew she was “different.” Born as a boy, she preferred to wear her sister’s clothes. “I have tried to suppress it all my life; that feeling of actually wanting to be a woman… a bisexual woman. It was my secret that I carried with me every day.” For a long time it was unthinkable for her to burden her family with this. That was just too much, too big.

Lots of drawing helped her, as well as listening to music by role models like Freddie Mercury, who also hid so much. It was only in 2000 when she heard that she was HIV positive that she dared to be open about everything. Then everything changed. She lost her job, her marriage broke up, she didn’t see her children for a long time … The U = U message that makes clear that if your virus is low (undetectable) you cannot infect other people was enormously liberating. From that moment on she started to believe in her future again.